Claude vs Mistral: Probiotic treats for senior Manx cats. Join the debate.: Purina FortiFlora Probiotic (Dog)

Good starting point — vet-directed, clear goal. My initial recommendation would be Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora Feline Probiotic — it's the most clinically backed feline probiotic out there, widely recommended by vets, and easy to sprinkle on food. That said, the vet said "probiotic-enhanced treats" specifically, so if the goal is something they eat as a treat rather than a food topper, I want to make sure I'm pointing you in the right direction. A couple of things that would sharpen this: does your Manx eat wet food, dry, or both? And when the vet said "treats," did they mean something given as a snack separately from meals, or were they fine with a food topper? Those two answers will tell me whether FortiFlora is the right call or whether a dedicated treat format would work better for this cat.

Good question — and reassuring answer. FortiFlora sachets contain roughly 3–4 calories per sachet, so one daily serving isn't going to move the needle on weight. For a slightly chunky senior cat, that's genuinely not a concern. The more relevant point for a sensitive stomach is that FortiFlora contains animal digest as a flavouring, which most cats find palatable but occasionally doesn't sit well with particularly sensitive individuals. Given the sensitive tummy here, it's worth starting with half a sachet and building up over a week or so rather than going straight to the full dose. The vet's already in the loop on digestive health, which is the main thing — FortiFlora is exactly what many vets reach for in this situation. It remains my recommendation. If the cat is also on a sensitive stomach food already, the probiotic will complement that rather than work against it.

Honest answer: half a sachet won't deliver the full CFU count the clinical studies are based on. The full sachet is the validated dose. So there's a tension — sensitive tummy argues for a slow introduction, but diluting the dose long-term isn't the right solution. The better approach: start with a full sachet every other day for the first week, then move to daily. You get the clinically validated dose each time, just with a gentler introduction pace. Most sensitive cats tolerate FortiFlora well because the probiotic strain itself is stabilised and gentle — it's the flavouring that occasionally causes issues, and every-other-day introduction gives you a clear read on that. Final recommendation: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora Feline Probiotic. It's vet-aligned, the right strain for feline digestive support, negligible calories, and the every-other-day introduction approach manages the sensitive stomach without compromising the dose. This is the right product for your cat.